Head to Merville for some contra

It’s almost Halloween and it’s time for the pumpkiniest fiddle contra dance of the season at the Big Yellow Merville Hall on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Swoop in with the witches, out of the rain and wind, to the warm and cozy Merville Hall where the Funtime Fiddlers are waiting to play your favourite Contra Dance tunes.

Contra dances are family friendly community dances where a caller directs all the spooks and crypt-crawlers around the dance floor with much laughter and happiness.

The steps are simple, well organized, and the caller even brings the wallflowers and vampires onto the floor.

Single dancers are most welcome as they can pair up with anyone during the contras so it is a great way to meet people.

Before the dance, from 7 to 7:30 p.m., there will be a contra dance workshop that will go over some basic, and more advanced, steps. The workshops are free of charge so plan to come early, find a suitable table and relax. At 7:30 p.m., the fiddlers start the music with contra sets lasting about 15 to 20 minutes per dance.

In between the called contra dances, jigs, reels, waltzes, foxtrots, swing tunes and polkas will be played.

There are spots for soloists and something for everyone at this Halloween kitchen party.

The atmosphere will be warm, friendly and welcoming, so Saturday, Oct. 17, zoom your broom to the Big Yellow Merville Dance Hall, right on the Old Island Highway, between Campbell River and Courtenay.

Doors open at 7, dance starts at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10/adults, $5/youth (6 and under free) family $20.